The trade balance deficit of the industrial sector improved, during the first eight months of 2023, to reach a value of 2,827.1 million dinars (MD) against a deficit of 7425.5 MD, during the same period of 2022, according to the economic bulletin published by the Agency of the Promotion of Industry and Innovation (APII). This improvement is explained by the increase in the value of exports of the industrial sector of 13.9% reaching 32,502.9 MD, during the first eight months of 2023 compared to 37,018.5 MD, during the same period of 2022. According to APII data, exports of the agro-food industries (IAA) sector increased by 23.7% to 3,712.2 MD. The same goes for the mechanical and electrical industries (IME) and leather and footwear (ICC) sectors, whose exports increased respectively by 19.1% (to 18,748.7 MD) and 18.7% (to 1,483. 5 MD), while exports of the chemical industries sector (ICH) fell by 12.3% to 2823.8 MD. Industrial imports recorded, at the end of August 2023, a drop of 0.2% to stand at 39,845.6 MD against 39,928.4 MD, during the same period of the year 2022. The APII reported the decrease in imports of the ICH sector by 12%, the Construction Materials, Ceramics and Glass Industries (IMCCV) by 5.5% and the textile and chemical clothing industries by 2.9 %. On the other hand, imports of the agro-food industries (IAA) and Leather and Footwear (ICC) sectors recorded, at the end of August 2023, an increase of 8.7% (to 2,811.7 MD) and 3.6% respectively to 934.7 MD.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
